ST. LOUIS, Missouri (CNN) – John McCain’s presidential campaign spent nearly $2 million on television in Michigan during the month of September before deciding to pull up stakes and focus resources elsewhere.

Political advertising data compiled for CNN by TNSMI-Campaign Media Analysis Group also shows that in the final two weeks of the month alone, McCain spent more than $661,000 on TV ads in the state. Two-thirds of those commercials ran in the Detroit and Grand Rapids television markets.

Even the Republican National Committee weighed in with a sizable one day ad buy of more than $62,000 on Sept. 30, the last day of the month.

A McCain aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the strategy was to try and force Obama to spend money in the state. And the aide added that there was “always a shred of hope to be able to capitalize on an electorate that was experienced and frustrated with the Democratic leaders” in the state. The McCain aide noted that Obama had invested serious time and money in Michigan and pointed to the Illinois Democrat’s decision to use the state as the stage to unveil the endorsements of former Vice President Al Gore and former Sen. John Edwards.

In the month of September, Obama spent more than $2.3 million on ads in Michigan, while the Democratic National Committee accounted for another $262,000 on campaign commercials.

It was an expensive gamble for McCain, but with 17 electoral votes on the line the campaign thought it was worth it. Now, the focus for McCain will be to keep past Republican states such as Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia in the GOP column, while trying to flip New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin as well as grabbing an electoral vote from Maine.

soundoff(107 Responses)

Mike in PA

McCain is making this so easy for Obama.

October 2, 2008 06:35 pm at 6:35 pm |

voter

maybe McCain should have donated that 2 million dollars to the workers in MI who lost their job thanks to the republican party. It is the least he can do considering that the republicans outsourced manufacturing and auto jobs oversees and McCain wants to continue to do so.

October 2, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

Kasch, California

I thought McCain was against wasteful spending?!

October 2, 2008 06:40 pm at 6:40 pm |

Cuban-mami-4-OBAMA

Wow... that's a lot of money. Things is this....... we, the People, are NOT STUPID. Fool us once.......twice.......not again!

We know about the Bush/Cheney/McCain legacy:

$10 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT

OVER 600,000 JOBS LOST THIS YEAR

$10 BILLION SPENT EVERY MONTH IN IRAQ

10,000 AMERICANS LOSING THEIR HOMES DAILY

THE 2009 DEFICIT OF .......$490........BILLION......AND GROWING

NOT TO MENTION THE LIES........BUSH/CHENEY/MCCAIN TOLD TO ATTACK IRAQ!

WE ARE SAYING ENOUGH LOUD AND CLEAR!

October 2, 2008 06:40 pm at 6:40 pm |

Dr. Mimi De La Cruz for OBAMA

MCBUSH WOULD LEAD US TO MORE POVERTY,

MORE WAR & MORE HATE FOR EACH OTHER.

October 2, 2008 06:41 pm at 6:41 pm |

BJGT

if Obama wins only the states where he is presently more than 5 points ahead in the polls, and loses all the other states (including all the states where he's now leading by less than 5 points), the result is a tie, 269-269 electoral votes, meaning that the election goes into the House of Representatives and Obama wins. That's a comforting thought in view of my belief that all of Obama's poll numbers are inflated by a few percentage points because racism causes some voters to lie to pollsters.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

October 2, 2008 06:42 pm at 6:42 pm |

Rodger

McCain will quit Pennsylvainia next, followed by Ohio, Virginia, Florida
and North Carolina. Obama will win in 4-6 former "red" states. They will be "blue" for many years to come. Bush and McCain have fractured the Republican Party for many years to come!!!

October 2, 2008 06:42 pm at 6:42 pm |

Sue in MI

Funny, I just saw another idiotic McCain ad slamming Obama. Does the man have no idea that the country is sick of this? Why can't he run a (mostly) positive campaign, as he keeps saying he is? The reason nobody believes him is because he lies all day. This started at the conventions when the Democrats were all respectful of McCain, and the Republicans did nothing but bash the other side from the first speech on. It's as if they have no platform to sell us, so they'll just make us afraid of Barack.

Democrats: inclusive
Republicans: us against them, and them, and them

October 2, 2008 06:43 pm at 6:43 pm |

Michigan Resident

There is hope. After 8 years of Bush running this country like a hobby with McShame behind him, go get out of Michigan. Take your "Maverick" sham with you! I'll be glad when this election is over. I try to objectively listen to both McShame and Obama and McShame is painfull! He's like a tumble weed in the Arizona desert. He goes which ever direction the wind is blowing. ENOUGH!!!!! I can vote right now!

October 2, 2008 06:43 pm at 6:43 pm |

Meka

WE ALL KNOW, MCCAIN'S ELEVATOR DOSEN'T GO UP!

HE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE!

October 2, 2008 06:43 pm at 6:43 pm |

Taniel

Today's wave of polls show Obama leading comfortably in Ohio, New Mexico and Iowa and even having a lead in North Carolina! Full roundup here.

October 2, 2008 06:43 pm at 6:43 pm |

Deb, Allentown,PA

Please get out and spread the word. Volunteer, donate, whatever you can do.

I'm heading to the Springsteen concert in Philadelphia on Saturday. BO will be there. I can not wait. Dragging my husband along so he can see the energy.

Volunteering is so much fun. You get to work with people of all ages, all ecconomic situations, all colors, creeds, etc. It's a wonderful experience and I'm sorry it took me so long (45 years) to get involved in something like this.

October 2, 2008 06:44 pm at 6:44 pm |

H

Judging by the vitriol, the spittle-spraying fits, the snarky comments and the just blatant rudeness, I'd say Palin actually has the hippies quite worried.

The volume of hate and spittle aimed at this candidate is directly proportionate to the level of fear they have. Otherwise, if she was honestly not a threat, why bother wasting your breath (or keystrokes)?

October 2, 2008 06:44 pm at 6:44 pm |

Independent Dave, Iowa

C'mon John face the facts. Since the convention, your gambles aren't paying off and your campaign strategy just plain sucks!

October 2, 2008 06:44 pm at 6:44 pm |

nom de guerre

All those Michigan gun owners will be kicking themselves in 2009 when the order comes down to "turn 'em in."

October 2, 2008 06:47 pm at 6:47 pm |

Dean Ebarb

McCain or Obama no difference. The added earmarks absolutely shows it is time for every incumbent to be voted out. If our country is truely on the virge of financial disaster politics for their votes in this crisis is just not American. They shouldnt be just voted out but impeached and banned from running in any public office. I want their names Mr. McCain plastered all over national news so Americans everywhere know who they need to vote or impeach out.

October 2, 2008 06:47 pm at 6:47 pm |

Jude

I guess...his gamble failed.

October 2, 2008 06:48 pm at 6:48 pm |

Former Republican for OBAMA

IF LIFE WERE FAIR, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD BUSH

FOR PRESIDENT FOR 8 YEARS & WE CERTAINLY

WOULDN'T BE THE NEW POOR NATION & WE WOULDN'T

HAVE TO LISTEN TO MCBUSH LIE ALL DAY LONG.

ON THE OTHER HAND MAYBE LIFE IS FAIR.

WE VOTED IGNORANT SCUMBAGS IN OFFICE.

October 2, 2008 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |

Moon Maiden from Lake Michigan

All is well,
Michigan does not want a Rebup in office. They are the one's responsible for the mess Michigan is in now.
Some blame our current Governor, however she came into the mess and it was up to her to make things good for Mi.?
Bless her heart at least she started THE NO WORKER LEFT BEHIND PROGRAM.
Thanks for leaving your camp out of Mi. McCain and thanks for the 2 milllion. Mi. needs it more than you could ever imagine.
Bo JB 08

October 2, 2008 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |

Peter (CA)

Even with all this, this election is way too close. I think that if the election were held tomorrow, Obama would win but with a month left, there is still time for many things to happen. And, more and more, I hear about the "Bradley effect." I hope that is just talk but I wonder if this country is ready to do the brave and forward thinking thing or if it is more comfortable with more of the same.

October 2, 2008 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |

edmond dantes

there are not enough voter in michagan who make enough money to benefit from what mccain offers. besides if president mccain dies in office they would get W in drag

October 2, 2008 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |

Billy

MCCAIN,,,,,,,,,IS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,OUT,,,,,,,,,,,,OF,,,,,,,,,,,,,,STEAM

October 2, 2008 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |

Oh Shallow Ones

You shallow individuals who post here should get a job!

You have no insight, no lives and no sense of respect, simply shallow "one line" jabs at someone who is against the "Great One."

You people do not know how to be fair nor do you understand how to follow politics to a degree of debate.

...collect your welfare checks, and continue to post on the laptop that "WE" the Republicans paid for via our tax dollars...

Get a life!

October 2, 2008 06:50 pm at 6:50 pm |

Nom Deplume

Now is the time for a Glorious November Revolution. Help Obama beat back McLame and the old boys capitalist running dogs network.

Here in Ohio, we have too many guns and not enough jobs. Let's kick out the CEOs and stockholders, take their factories, and put ourselves to work, America.